Help Her Like Who She’s Becoming — Not Chase a “Perfect” Body
Puberty can make young people extremely aware of their appearance.
Bodies develop.
Skin changes.
Height changes.
Weight and body proportions change.
Friends develop at different rates.
And social media can create unrealistic comparisons.
Parents and caregivers have an important role in creating a healthier environment.
Be Careful with Body Comments
Avoid teasing or repeatedly commenting on:
- Weight
- Breast development
- Height
- Skin
- Body shape
- How quickly or slowly she is developing
Even comments intended as jokes can affect confidence.
Praise More Than Appearance
Notice her:
- Kindness
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Courage
- Responsibility
- Effort
- Problem-solving
- Talents
- Leadership
- Academic progress
Help her understand that her value isn’t determined by how she looks.
Watch Your Own Language
Young people listen to how adults talk about their own bodies and other people’s bodies.
Model respectful language.
Teach Social Media Awareness
Help her understand that online images may be carefully selected, posed, filtered or edited.
She shouldn’t measure normal development against a curated screen.
Yazz® Parent Tip
Instead of teaching her to ask:
“Am I pretty enough?”
help her develop a much bigger question:
“Who am I becoming?